The Little Gardener

A classic title back in print!


George, the little gardener, is surprised when one of his beloved flowers is sad. The small daisy would rather be in the neighbour’s beautiful garden filled with lilies and roses than in George’s untamed yard. But when George assists her, she finds that things are not always as they seem. Bernadette Watts’ beautiful pastel illustrations bring magic to this heart-warming story by Gerda Marie Scheidl about the things that matter most.

“The story is simply told and beautifully illustrated in sunlit and moonlit scenes that contrast the regimented, formal garden with its wild, though lovingly tended, counterpart...Taken literally or as a fable, this picture book will appeal to children through its sense of empathy and its love of nature.”

Originally published in Switzerland in 1985, this gentle picture book is quaint...Luminous, pastel drawings capture the contrast between the peaceful sanctuary of the pleasingly unkempt meadow and the forbidding formality of the neighboring garden. --Jan Aldrich Solow "School Library Connection"
The grass is not always greener in this simple, gentle, beautifully illustrated tale.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
--Carolyn Phelan "Booklist"

Gerda Marie Scheidl (1913–2005) was born in Bremerhaven-Geestemünde in the north of Germany. Scheidl studied dance at the Hellerau-Laxenburg School on the outskirts of Vienna, then trained as an actor and became a member of the Stadttheater Bremerhaven. Afterward she had a three-year stint with the Dortmund opera before returning to her studies, reading philosophy and art history. Scheidl wrote both books and plays for children. Later she also worked for radio and television and was in charge of a private children’s theater.


Bernadette Watts, known throughout Europe simply as Bernadette, has illustrated many dozens of folk- and fairy tales. Born in England, she loved to draw from childhood. She studied at the Maidstone Art School in Kent, UK, for a time under the tutelage of Brian Wildsmith. Bernadette’s many beautiful books include The Snow Queen and The Bremen Town Musicians. Bernadette finds her inspiration in nature. Today she lives and works in Kent. She has been illustrating for NorthSouth Books and NordSüd Verlag since the beginning of her career fifty years ago.

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